Apparatus for treating fabric



Feb. 13, 1934. R A. HETZER N APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1931 R mm w. \1mm. M f 5 v a J BY M, wwwa/f .ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1934 PATENT. OFFICE APPARATUS Foa TREATING FABRIC Russell A. Hetzer, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, 0hio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 19, 1931. seria1N0.5o9,615

1 Claim.

My inventionrelates to apparatus for removing the foreign matter from a volatile detergent after a fabric treating operation whereby the same detergent may be used in subsequent operations with but small loss in the volume thereof.

In fabric treating machines, it is desirable to be able to repeatedly use the same detergent for fabric treatment and to have the detergent equally effective in each operation or to use the same supply of detergent over and over again in rapid succession. Further, it is highly desirable to have all of the necessary apparatus and pipe connections, if any,- arranged in as compact a form as possible so as to conserve space and avoid leaky joints and fittings and to provide a means for preparing the volatile detergent being reclaimed for a subsequent reclamation operation during a prior reclaiming operation, for example, raising the temperature of the detergent just prior to the evaporating step in the reclamation process. In accordance with my invention, the reclaiming apparatus is arranged in a single container with the parts thereof in a sequence to produce the most economical and effective reclamation of used solvent, and that goes to produce compactness 'in the apparatus and permits an arrangement of parts such as to practically eliminate the danger of leaky joints or fittings.

The method of treating fabric consists in employing a Volatile solvent having a low boiling point, for instance, carbon tetrachloride and agitating the fabric to be treated within a pool of such solvent to remove the dirt and foreign matter from the fabric and cause transfer thereof to the solvent. The method of recovering the solvent as a treating operation consists in preheating the used solvent and then evaporating it at a temperature insuicient to evaporate animal and vegetable oils therefrom and removing all of the moisture from the solvent which may have been extracted from the fabric being treated and then condensing the evaporated solvent only and collecting it in a storage tank from which it may be transferredto the fabric treating point as desired, all of these operations taking place in apparatus partially if not wholly closed to the outside atmosphere.

Various objects and advantageous -features of l my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereofmay be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein 'similar characters o'f reference designate corresponding apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of parts of the entire apparatus and connections therebetween.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown an apparatus for treating fabric together with a means for supplying a volatile detergent toa treating compartment, removing the detergent from the treating `compartment after the treating operation and then removing the foreign matter from the detergent and transferring it to a supply tank ready for use in a subsequent operation comprising a fabric treating compartment 1 that is provided on its interior with the usual rotatable fabric container 2. The rotatable fabric container is driven in alternately reverse directions by a motor or power unit 4 (see Figs. 1 and 2) operatively connected to the goods container by the usual speed reduction mechanism, not shown. A storage tank 5 is mounted adjacentthe 75 treating compartment or washer 1 and containsa supply of the volatile liquid used inthe treating operation, the storage tank being connected to the treating compartment or washer 1 by means of a pipe or conduit 6 and the volatile liquid be- 80 ing transferred from the storage tank to the treating compartment or washer when desired by means of a pump '7.

A conduit 8 leads from the bottom of the com partment 1 to a sump tank 9 located below the 85 compartment and such conduit is provided with a valve 10 for controlling the flow of treating medium from the compartment 1 to the sumpy tank. A sight glass 11 (see Fig. 1) is provided in the conduit 8 for determining when all of the 90 medium has been drained from the compartment and has passed into the sump tank. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the outlet end of the conduit 8 discharges into a strainer basket 12 that is located partly within the connes of the sump tank and is made removable therefrom through a top opening normally closed by an air tight cover. Such strainer basket provides a'means for catching and retaining any small particles of foreign matter over a given size that may become separated from the goods in theA treating compartment thereby preventing such foreign matter from lodging inthe sump'tank or other parts of the apparatus and possibly interfering with the operation thereof.

v In order. to recirculate the treating medium and renovate the used medium prior to its return to the storage tank 5 from which it is supplied to the treating compartment 1 for subsequent treating operations, a pump 13 is provided, lthe 110 intake side of the pump being connected to the sump tank by a conduit 14 and the exhaust side of the pump being connected or leading to a lter or lters 15 by way of a conduit 16. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there are two filters 15 and that the conduit 16 terminates in two branches 17 and 18 that lead to the respective filters and are under control of valves 19 and 20 whereby the treating medium may be permitted to ow or be pumped to either one of the lters 13 selectively or both of the lters simultaneously. All conduits in the apparatus vare, of course, provided with suitable valve Where such valves are necessary.

As shown in Fig. -1, the portion of the conduit 14 leading from the pump 13 into the sump tank 9 that extends within the sump tank terminates in a vertically extending T-connection whose upper end 21 is adjacent the top of the sump tank and whose lower end 22 is adjacent the 'bottom thereof. The purpose of a' T-connection of this type is to always have the intake of medium from the sump tank adjacent the bottom thereof whereby any water oating on the top of the medium will not be drawny into the apparatus and may be drained from the sump tank and to provide a means for regulating the lowest level of the medium in the sump ,tank which will be at the point where the conduit 14 joins the T- connection. The sump tank 9 is entirely closed with the exception of a small vent pipe 23 through which air can escape from the sump tank when liquid from the compartment 1 enters the tank. This may be an individual vent or may lead to a common vent for other parts of the apparatus.

As a first step in the recirculation of used treating medium from the sump tank 9 to the storage tank 5, the medium is pumped into one or both of the lters 15 by way of the conduit' 14, pump 13 and conduits 16 and 18. As hereinbefore stated, either one of the filters 15 may be used while the other is being cleaned or both filters may be used simultaneously. The filtered medium passes downwardly into an evaporator 24 by way of a conduit 25 under control of a valve 26 and provided with a sight glass 27 and, on being evaporated, the vapor passes upwardly around a series of baies 28 and into a condenser 29 that may be of any well known type and wherein the Vapor is changed to liquid form. Such condensed liquid then passes from the condenser 29 downwardly into the storage tank 5 by way of a conduit 29 that is providedwith a moisture trap 30 to collect any water still remaining in the carbon tetrachloride or cleaning medium and with a sight glass 31 for determining when all vapor has been condensed and has passed to the storage tank. The liquid in the storage tank 5 is then ready for subsequent use as a cleaning medium having had all foreign matter and water removed therefrom.

In accordance with my invention, the lters l5; condenser 29, evaporator 24, and storage tank 5 are all disposed within a single container 32 that may be cylindrical or rectangular in form.

and is mounted on a base frame 33 that supports the remainder of the apparatus including the compartment 1 and sump tank 9 and, in the preferred arrangement, the storage tank 5 is mounted in the lower part of the container 32 with the evaporator 24 immediately thereabove and provided with suitable insulation to conserve heat and the filters 15 are directly above the evaporator 24. Such arrangement is advantageous in that it will permit preheating of the treating medium passing through the filter 15 before such gather more vapor.

medium enters the evaporator 24 which will hasten the evaporization of the solvent and will result in a saving of the heat required since the preheating in the lters takes place by reason of heat radiated from the evaporator 24 and otherwise wasted. It is also advantageous in that it will eliminate to a' certain extent leaky joints and fittings between the various parts just described.

In addition to the hereinbefore described apparatus for recirculating and renovating the treating medium, suitable apparatus is provided to deodorize and dry the goods as a part of the treating operation and before removal of the goods from the washing compartment 1. As shown in the drawings, a fan 34 is located near the treating compartment 1, the fan being driven by a motor 35. One discharge of the fan is connected by means of a conduit 36 to an air heater -37 which is, in turn, connected to the treating compartment 1 by a duct 38. An air duct 39 hav- 95 ing a lint screen 40 therein connects the compartlnent 1`With a condenser 1 with a condenser 41 and the discharge side of this condenser is connected by a duct 42 with the intake side of the fan 34. A duct 43 under the control of a valve 44 leads fromAthe duct 36 to the atmosphere and a pipe or conduit 45 under the control of suitable Valves and having a sight glass 46 therein leads from the bottom of the condenser 41 to the sump tank 9 whereby liquid form vaporcondensed within the condenser 4l may be returned to the sump tank. A.valve 47 is provided in the conduit 38 to permit atmospheric air tov enter the conduit when desired. All of the apparatus just described, is arranged in compact form and mounted on the110 base frame 3 adjacent the container 32 as will be apparent by referring to Figs. 1 and 2.

In the drying operation, the fan 34 is placed in operation whereby air from the heater 37 will be forced through the duct 38 and compartment 1 and will gather vapor from the goods and carry such vapor through the duct 39 and lint screen 40 to the condenser 41 whereinl the treating medium is condensed and passes to the sump tank 9 through the conduit 45, the air passing onwardly through the duct 42, fan 34, duct 36, and heater 37 back through thecompartment 1 to It will be understoodthat the air is reheated at each passage through the heater 37 and that the air is continuously circulated through the compartment 1 until condensed liquid ceases to pass through the conduit 45, that is, until there is no more treating medium in the goods to be picked up by the moving air. It Will also be understood that during this circulation of heated air the valves 44 and 47 are closed.

After the drying operation just described, the goods are subjected to a deodorizing operation. In this operation, it first being understood that the valves 44 and 47 may be operable simultaneously and by single means and held in normally closed position, both the valves 44 and 47 are openedwhich/will permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the system through the valve 47, passed through the dried goods in the compartment 1, and discharged through the duct 39, condenser 41, duct 42, fan 34, and duct 43 to the atmosphere, the fan 34 being in operation and the valve 44 in such position as to close the duct 36 to the heater 37 and also the duct 43 to the atmosphere. Such forced circulation of atmospheric air is continued until the goods are i y thoroughly deodorized after which they are removed from the compartment 1 and a fresh batch to be cleaned is introduced.

Referring to the drawings and the preceding description, it will'be seen that I have provided a method and apparatus, and particularly an apparatus, for treating fabrics embodying numer ous novel and advantageous features. For instance, I have provided a fabric cleaning apparatus embodying means 4for rejuvenating or reclaiming a previously used. treating medium wherein the used treating medium is prepared for the various steps that make up the reclamation process prior to reaching such steps of the process. For instance, a means is provided for preheating the used treating medium prior to the.

' step of evaporation whereby the actual evaporation step may take place more readily and with less expended heat, the preheating being performed by heat radiated from the evaporator and normallywasted. Another advantageous feature resides in the fact that I have provided a compact apparatus necessitating a minimum of iioor space and with the parts of the apparatus so arranged as to practically eliminate the heretofore prevalent danger of leaky joints and fittings.

` This hasbeen accomplished, in one instance, by

are no pipe connections for the transmission of vapor from the evaporator to the condenser, the

vapor passing from one to the other past a series of baiiies which serve as a means for collecting moisture and returning it to the evaporator and also as a means for dispersing or spreading out the vapor. It will be readily apparent that no pipe connections between the evaporator and condenser will eliminate the possibilities of leaky joints or fittings.

What I claim is:

Apparatus of the character described, comprising a solvent filter, an evaporator, a condenser, and a storage tank, all of said parts being operatively interconnected together and arranged in a single container, with the filter at the top,

the storage tankl at the bottom, and the evapothe top wall of the storage tank and the evap0' rator being directly below said filter and serving as 4a means for pre-heating the solvent passing therethrough, means for conducting liquid from said Iilter to said evaporator, an open passage connection from said evaporator to said condenser positioned thereabove, and baiile means in said open passage serving to spread the vapor arising out of said evaporator and as a Water condensing means for removing the water from the solvent vapor stream for return to said evaporator, and means for conducting condensed liquid from said condenser to said storage tank.

' RUSSELL A. HETZER. 

